This despite the fact that "Homeland" was airing opposite the hugely anticipated series finale of AMC's drama "Breaking Bad." "Breaking Bad" set its own record, with more than 10 million viewers tuning in for the 9 p.m. event.

What's more, "Homeland" had to contend with generally poor reaction to its sophomore season, which was trashed by many critics and fans as not living up to the promise of the series.

Meanwhile, the 10 p.m. premiere of "Masters of Sex" -- a dramatization of the careers of pioneering sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson -- got off to a soft start, with 1 million tuning in.